Saturday, February 12, 2011

Because my words have been taken out of context and remixed into something that doesnt really reflect how I think, i am going to set things straight in relation to this whole Australian Male chauvinist issue.

What i said to the journalist last summer, was along the following lines while trying to explain why that could have happened in Sweden:

One has to bear in mind the cultural differences between people from Australia and Scandinavia. Australian men often experience Scandinavian females to be feminists in a negative way while Scandinavian females experience Australian men to be a bit of a male chauvinists. This can often lead to massive misunderstandings - the problem might also be caused by that deep cultural differences can not be detected on the surface but something people gradually discover after a while.

I have lived in both Australia and Sweden and experienced how these misunderstandings develop because of different cultural acceptance of roles and power. I did not mean to insult the entire male population in OZ. Just trying to explain cultural differences early on in the Swedish case.

But of course as always happens when words are recycled through many paths, people and media - they tend to loose the context and are no longer a part of a larger picture and dont reflect at all what one said to begin with.

I do think compared to Scandinavian males that Australian males often come across as a bit of a male chauvinist and I think compared to Australian females Scandinavian females often come across as a bit of a female chauvinists.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Yesterday Birgitta Jónsdóttir, a member of the Icelandic Parliament for the Movement and the Foreign Affairs committee called for support from the Icelandic Government for the people protesting in Egypt and condemnation of the oppression they are facing.

During a parliamentary Q&A yesterday when asked about his option about the situation in Egypt by, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, the Foreign Minister echoed her worries about the situation and call for support for the Egyptian people that are demanding change and calling for democratic reform in Egypt. The Minister said that the Government protested against all violations of human rights. He condemned that the Egyptian public did not enjoy freedom of expression and information as media outlets were banned in the wake of blackout on Al Jazeera, the Internet and mobile networks.

Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, is deeply concerned by the situation in Egypt and condemns any use of violence against protesters. The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights has estimated that up to 300 people have been killed since the protests began.

The Minister said that free elections, without any limitations to freedom of expression, were needed so that the people of Egypt were able to express their will.

The Movement is thankful for response from the Minister and has called for a meeting in the Foreign Affairs committee to address the situation and call for a parliamentary resolution to show solidarity with the demand for democratic reform in Egypt.